Special consideration

As a Monash student, you’re required to complete assessment tasks to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes of the units. You normally have one chance to complete each assessment task or exam.

If you can’t complete an assessment task or exam due to exceptional circumstances beyond your control, you may be eligible for special consideration.

If you’re granted special consideration, you may be given an extension, another assessment or a deferred exam, but your original assessment result can’t be changed.

Check your eligibility

You may be eligible if you didn't complete your final exam or assessment, due to exceptional circumstances beyond your control. The reasons may include:

acute illness

loss or bereavement

hardship or trauma.

You may also be eligible for special consideration if you can show your obligation to:

military service

jury service

emergency services such as the Country Fire Authority

Monash Sport's athlete support program, if you are participating in a key event.

Extensions for assessments

If you think it would help, your first option is to ask your faculty for a short extension for your due date. The faculties listed below have specific information about extensions including how to apply.

Malaysia

South Africa

Australia

Students enrolled at an Australian campus use the online system below only for end-of-semester exams that appear in your exam timetable in WES. If you have another type of assessment, see the section on other assessment tasks.

Unable to sit a supplementary exam

Deadlines

From semester one 2017 you'll no longer be able to cancel your exam once you attend, but can't complete it.

Applying before the exam (early applications) If you don’t think you’ll be able to attend or complete your exam, due to illness or other serious situation, and believe you meet the eligibility criteria for special consideration, make sure you apply before the deadline.

You can apply for early approval of a deferred exam up until five University working-days before your exam.

On the day of the exam If you can’t attend your exam due to exceptional circumstances, including serious or acute illness, to be considered for special consideration, you must apply within two University working-days of your last exam.

If you suddenly become unwell during your exam, tell an exam supervisor and they'll advise an appropriate course of action.We recommend you try to finish your exam if you are able, because in most circumstances, if you turn up to your exam and have seen and/or attempted to answer the exam questions, you will not be eligible for a deferred exam.

Late applications

Late applications may be accepted at the discretion of the Dean of your unit teaching faculty but will not, under any circumstances, be accepted after the results have been released. This also applies to other assessment tasks.

End-of-semester task

How to apply

For other types of assessment and non-centrally administered exams, you need to apply no later than two University working days after the due date of the affected assessment/activity, by:

Supporting documents

Make sure you provide one or more of these documents to support your application:

medical certificate, letter from a medical professional

letter from a social worker, lawyer, psychologist

death notice or certificate and evidence of relationship

police report

statutory declarations from students or relevant people

notification from:

defence services

Juries Commissioner's Office

emergency service organisations such as the Country Fire Authority

Monash Sport's elite athlete support program.

Medical and professional certificates must state that you were unfit to sit your exam or complete work for assessment on or before the relevant date, and can't be signed by a member of your family.

If you attend the exam, but are unable to finish it due to serious or acute illness, or other serious cause, you're required to provide compelling evidence of the severity of your illness or exceptional circumstances.

How you're notified of the decision

In-semester applications The faculty teaching the unit will email your student account with the outcome of your application.

End-of-semester applications If you applied for early approval of a deferred exam (submitted at least five University working days before the exam) you'll receive email notification at least 24 hours before the exam.

If successful, you will be advised to attend a deferred exam. When results are released, your interim grade for the unit will be DEF (deferred assessment has been granted).

If unsuccessful, you will be advised to attend your scheduled exam.

If you applied because you could not complete a final exam or assessment, you will be notified of the decision through the Web Enrolment System (WES).

An interim grade of DEF or WH (withheld) will appear against the unit if you have been granted a deferred or alternative assessment task or exam.

If unsuccessful, your unfinished exam paper will be marked and count towards your final unit result.

Impact on unit selection

If you receive a DEF or WH result, this could affect prerequisite requirements and your unit choice for next semester. See failed and invalid units.